THE TOTALISATOR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 660, 6 January 1881, Page 2

THE TOTALISATOR.

.' The seject committee of the Victorian Legislative Council on the Betting Prevention' Bill lately submitted their repoil'They'Stato that they have examined sixteen witnesses with the viow of taking evidence as to whether or not it is'desirable to sanction,' by-express legislation, the use of the totalisator. Being fully impressed-, as-to-the deplorable extent to jvhislijanihliii!! and hotting have attained in the colony, they aro of opinion that legislation should take place.to mitigate, and,, as far as possible, control the resulting evils. As betting on horse-facing cannot be prevented; they consider it desirable, with a view to diminish the evils arising* therefrom,, to.assent to the ••measure referred to them, That measure js, tjiey observe, proposed merely as an experiment, 'from which, however, the ..commitlee lia've reaso i to.believe satisfactory results in the interests of morality will'ensue, Amongst the most important of these results tlie Committee anticipate (1) r .he obliteration of the crowd of small bookmakers who attend racecourses, and who belong to a considerable extent to

the criminal classes; (2) tlie, diminution of the amount of credit betting with tho Jess objectionable .jiiemberg of tlje ring ; 'Kfid (4) tho lessening btlhaHempiatifialo omployees to rob their maMs,"-inasmuch .as ready ®oney must be'stiiheiFwhere'tlie -Eolal|8!i(or Tlw-'cKifi{" objection made/to the introductiyrfof'the'm'achine .was that it would tend"ultimat6ly to loa> sen would not-Jbe• ableto-bet large sunis~6n their horses if book nijike'ta itere seriously: interfered"" with-;- but Committee do not, that objection should have uiu.ch weight with the; House. ..lii conclusion, the Committee.-express their belief that the passing of the".measure would be beneficial in the interests of morality, and recommend it to the .'favorable consideration of the House, ....• It may be added thiit this report wis: adopted on tho oasting vote of the Chair-' man, Dr Dobsou,- ■ • ' •